Independent Reading Level: Grades 3 - 5
John Newbery Medal (1997) ( )

I applaud the author's ability to weave a story around the moral points he wants to make. It really is done extremely well. Just know that it is ROUGH to read (CW: killing pigeons en masse, peer pressure, bullying, cultivating violence and hate in children). I can definitely see parallels in the town's celebration of butchery/hate in other societal issues. Again, very well done, but won't leave you feeling happy or even satisfied at the end. ( )

This book is about a boy named Palmer. In his town when boys turn ten they have to become "Wringers" where they wring pigeons necks for the whole town. Palmer does not want to participate and he even is keeping a pigeon in his room. I think this book is okay. I personally had to read it in middle school. It was a decent book but I was not much of a fan. I do not think I would read this book in my middle school classroom. ( )

Wringer was definitely an interesting story that places the main character in a dilemma that puts tradition against morals and empathy. The main character has to make hard choices to either do what he knows is right or to follow long-held customs. This story is pretty intense, but I believe it holds many moral lessons. For that reason I would find it to be a good read for young adolescents. I enjoyed the book overall and the strange aspects of it. ( )

poor pigeons... Why are those people so cruel? ( )